Diagram of a Disciple Pt.1: Internal Components

Matthew 5:1–12 NASB95

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

INTRO: We’ve been discussing our mission over the last month or so- the aim of being a healthy Christian begins with the aim of God’s mission for the church as a whole and for us as individuals. But when we talk about being a follower of Jesus, we often only talk about what we must do:

Read the bible

Pray

Attend church services / small groups

Give

Serve

Proclaim the Gospel

These are all good things to do- and it’s true that they are necessary as we seek to fulfill God’s Great Commission for the church. However we know that we cannot ‘do’ anything in our own strength (John 15:5), and that even what we do accomplish will not add to our righteousness.

Doing, by itself, turns church members into Pharisees. Of course, not doing makes us hypocrites for James says “Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.” Sometimes this presents as an unsolvable formula and churches and Christians find themselves paralyzed or confused.

So, over the next few weeks, we are going to do our best to look into God’s Word to see what a healthy disciple looks like or at least, what one looks to become. You see,

Discipleship is not about doing per se, it’s about becoming more like Jesus.

ILL: I want you to imagine a washing machine. Most of you know what one is and basically what it does… for you teenagers who have not yet encountered this contraption, it is a machine that cleans your clothes using soap and water, some agitation, some spinning....

Anyway, though you might know basically what it does, most people could not draw out all the components on paper. If you were to try and build a washing machine from scratch, could you easily do it? I bet you could if you had a diagram showing you all the parts you needed.

Similarly, most people in the church have an idea what a disciple is or does, but if asked to tell what makes a healthy disciple, would struggle to draw a diagram.

How will we know if we are a healthy disciple? How will we go about making disciples? If our mission is to make disciples of all nations, we need to understand what exactly we hope to make. This way, we will know when we have been successful in our mission- we can celebrate and replicate.

What I am describing is not a program or a step-by-step process. (We will talk strategy next month.) Instead, I am describing a picture of a healthy disciple; one that we would be happy to both become and lead others toward.

To do this, we will look at the One who is the image of the invisible God, the author and perfecter of our faith, the One whom we hope to become like, Jesus Christ. We cannot cover it all in one day or even one month. But each week, we’ll tackle a different perspective.

So instead of attempting to trace all of Jesus’ steps and attributes, today we will look at His teaching on the matter. In Matt. 4, we see that Jesus had been publicly preaching about the Kingdom of heaven and healing many who were sick, crippled, or demon-possessed so they might recognize the authority of His words.

In Matt. 5, Jesus took his disciples aside on the mountain and taught them what Kingdom-citizens were like. Verses 3-10 are often called the Beatitudes which is a word used to describe supreme blessedness. What greater blessing can there be but to belong to Christ as part of His Kingdom, sharing in His holiness and love?

So let’s get right into this teaching. The sermon is titled “Diagram of a Disciple Pt. 1: Internal Components.” You’ll want to utilize the sermon guide as we walk through Jesus’ teaching on the internal components of a healthy disciple… no fill in the blanks, but hopefully some good references for you.

There is 1 point, which is simply this:

A Healthy Disciple has 8 Critical Internal Components:

I say internal because these are not meant to describe actions. They are meant to describe being.

Jesus taught: ‘you’ve heard it said...” and he would go onto list a component of the Law. Then we would turn and declare, “But I say.” On these occasions, he pointed to the motive; the heart. This teaching in Mat. 5 is a summary teaching on the internal parts that combine to make a healthy disciple.

These critical components or Beatitudes are listed this way:

A healthy disciple is poor in spirit (3)

We must consider this statement. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Well, let’s break it down. To be poor means to be without. It means that there is no abundance or wealth.

Surely Jesus’ followers knew what it meant to be poor. They knew what it meant to regularly miss meals and to not know if they would have all the provisions necessary. They probably did not wear flashy clothing and did not think too highly about their status. It is likely that they knew what it meant to work hard and knew that they didn’t deserve the palaces or treasures of kings.

Now, if we add ‘in spirit’ here, we can deduce that this is one’s attitude toward their spiritual life. So to be poor in spirit is to not be spiritually proud. Said another way, it is to acknowledge one’s spiritual destitution. It is to look at one’s life and know that everything they may claim in their spiritual life is at the hand of God almighty.

These are not Christians who live like they deserve to be in God’s Kingdom or like they are a gift to God’s kingdom, but rather they are poor in spirit. They sing loud “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”

Poor in Spirit = Rich in the Kingdom. We could elaborate more, but we must move on. A healthy disciple is poor in spirit.

A healthy disciple mourns (4)

Now, I know this sounds like doing more than being, but we must look deeper. The question that must be asked is “Mourns over what?”

At the base level, one mourns in sadness, loss, brokenness. If you’ve ever had a loved one die, you have mourned. In the Bible days, when someone rich died, the family would hire professional mourners to cry loudly so that the people would see the value of the deceased individual.

But this is not simply about mourning over a loss. Instead it is most likely that this is directed at mourning over sin. That is, a healthy disciple mourns over his own sins for he knows that they separate him in fellowship from God. He mourns the sins of others for they grieve God. And he mourns the sins of the world because they are headed towards judgment.

We see this with Jesus as he wept over Jerusalem in their sin and rejection of Him. We see this in Nehemiah who mourned the sins and brokenness of Jerusalem. We see it in Ezra who mourned the disobedience of Israel. In David as he looked at his own sin, and in the apostle Paul who called himself the chief of sinners.

Mourning, grieving over sin because God mourns over our sins. Comfort for those who mourn is found in the Lord Jesus Christ who took the world’s sin upon His own body and made the way for redemption! A healthy disciple mourns, but he mourns with the hope of Christ for himself and for others. Next,

A healthy disciple is gentle (5)

Some translations say ‘meek’ or ‘humble.’ The idea here is without pretense or entitlement. The hearers of Jesus’ message would have seen this as upside-down in cultural terms. The Greeks as well as Pharisees were fairly arrogant and demanding; aggressive and defensive.

So what does it mean to be gentle? I believe it means to be honest with oneself. It’s not that you have to belittle yourself or beat yourself up. Rather, it means to be open to the correction of the Holy Spirit and others who love you. It means that the recognition of grace in your life produces a sense of gratitude and value.

So, you are approachable, willing to serve others, even if they aren’t on the same “level” as you. It’s that upside down kingdom principle Jesus told his disciples in Matt. 20:25-26

Matthew 20:25–26 NASB95

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

Another way to look at this component is that a healthy disciple values the reward of Christ to be greater than what the world offers. Again, it’s not about doing, it’s about being. A healthy disciple is gentle.

A healthy disciple hungers and thirsts for righteousness (6)

Do you know what it feels like to be hungry? I’m not talking about that little growl you feel right now in your stomach. I mean really hungry. It’s all you can think about. Or when you are so thirsty that you can’t wait to get that cup of water?

This speaks to one’s desires or motivation. A healthy disciple desires righteousness like they desire the basic needs of food and drink. They desire justice and truth. This is one who pursues holiness and growth in Christ as a matter of both want and need.

Now don’t miss this idea here. This is saying that if we are healthy, we will have an innate hunger to be more like Jesus. It’s not simply a discipline. It’s not just something I heard at church. With the same energy and consistency that you pursue basic sustenance for life that you pursue Christ.

Seek Him and you will find Him if you seek him with your whole heart… His word will accomplish its purpose. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will find ultimate satisfaction, for Christ is our reward!

Remember, this is who a healthy disciple has become, not simply what he does. Friend, What do you want most? What do you think about most? What do you lay at night longing for? Anything other than Christ will lead to disappointment. Only Christ satisfies! A healthy disciple hungers and thirsts for righteousness.

A healthy disciple is merciful. (7)

Mercy can be described as not receiving a punishment or penalty that is deserved. So, to be merciful means that you do not impose a deserved penalty upon someone, but instead you forgive that debt.

This is pretty straightforward, but it’s probably one that we need to study all the more. You see, to be merciful is not the same as practicing mercy. You can not technically enforce a punishment, but be full of vengeance and bitterness. Of course, this also applies to extending compassion to those who are suffering.

But, mercy that is extended as a matter of being merciful means that you pay from your own account the penalty that the other deserves. How does that work?

Well, it’s not easy, but it is simple. Being merciful requires that you look at another the way that you know Christ has looked at you. Jesus instructed his disciples a little later in Matt. 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14–15 NASB95

14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

[Parable of forgiveness in Mat 18:21-35?] Pushes motivation!!! A healthy disciple is merciful. Next,

A healthy disciple is pure in heart (8)

I take this to mean authentic or sincere in single-minded devotion to God. IOW, when a healthy disciple prays “thy will be done,” it is with the notion that as God demonstrates His desire, that person has every sincere intent to obey because in their heart, they are His.

A lot of people sit in churches and have not given themselves fully to God. They only want to surrender certain parts of their life. This is hypocrisy at its finest and testifies against them, just like the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked for honoring him with their mouths, but their hearts were far from him.

As we’ve pointed out before, Jesus demands that we die to ourselves. We are given a new heart in Christ and with it new desires. Many of us can admit that we are still in this process, and we need to cry out with the Psalmist in Ps. 139:23-24

Psalm 139:23–24 NASB95

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

If you are a true follower of Christ, then you are becoming more and more pure in heart. You are growing closer to Him. You are learning to abide in Christ. Like Moses who desired to see God’s will carried out and went to the mountaintop to speak with Him, a healthy disciple will have pure intentions and will be in the process of living according to God’s desires.

A healthy disciple is pure in heart.; authentic or sincere in single-minded devotion to God.

A healthy disciple is a peacemaker (9)

Peacemakers are the opposite of those who cause division. And though there are actions attached to both, this is about being. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, for He came to reconcile the sinful world to a holy God. As his disciples, we too are called to reconciliation. And again, this includes actions such as leaning into conflict and navigating it to godly resolve and it includes proclaiming the gospel of peace, but what does it mean to be a peacemaker?

I believe Jesus is appealing to the heart and motivation to love one another. A peacemaker seeks peace and reconciliation, not merely an absence of conflict. That means that peacemakers are lovers of God’s Word and believe that His truth and peace will reign perfectly one day, though imperfectly in the hearts of His followers.

We could picture the ocean here. The ocean is a picture of chaos with crashing waves and such. But in the book of Revelation 4:6, John gives us a picture of a sea like glass- calm and free of chaos. It is peaceful; reconciled.

Peacemakers desire for God’s kingdom rule and for the reconciliation of all men to Christ through repentance and belief. They are motivated by the hope of the Gospel and convinced of its power to reconcile sinners.

In our hearts, then, a healthy disciple desires for peace between one another and for peace between men and God; that is that sinners would come to God through faith in Christ. A healthy disciple is a peacemaker. Finally, and I know you’ve been waiting on this one,

A healthy disciple perseveres (10-11)

I know this one sounds a bit off compared to the others, but bear with me. We are talking about being not an action. But this attribute cannot be described without understanding the action. Jesus elaborates on this one more than the rest, and I think that’s because it will be one of the toughest internal components. I’m going to describe this as belief.

You see, Jesus actually said blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. So, he’s not really looking for martyrs who will throw themselves into persecution through unnecessary rudeness or through some other manner of ridiculousness.

He said for the sake of righteousness. So, this means that a healthy disciple believes the gospel in such a way that when they face opposition, ridicule, persecution, they will remain bold and confident in the truth. I’m reminded of Peter & John in Acts 4. You see, they were not asking for trouble, but when trouble came, they didn’t cower or go into hiding. No! They stood firm and even prayed for more boldness!

Or Paul who when beaten and thrown in prison worshiped through song and declared to live is Christ to die is gain.

Healthy disciples are those that believe that the Gospel really does save and that lives given over to Christ are transformed lives. They believe in the atoning work of Jesus on that old Cross, the resurrection from the dead, and the heavenly reward for all who belong to Christ! They believe it so much that it does not matter who tries to shut them up or who makes fun of them.

It doesn’t matter if they get rebuked or if they get cancelled. It doesn’t matter what this world throws at them because they have the power of God in them! They have victory in Jesus!

Praise God, the healthy disciple will not find themselves in a place where they have deconstructed their faith because it is built on the cornerstone of Christ!

Look here for a minute and let’s review:

A healthy disciple:

is poor in spirit (acknowledges their desperate need for God)

mourns (is grieved over sin because God is grieved over sin)

is gentle (humble and not-entitled)

hungers and thirsts for righteousness (desires the things of God)

is merciful (generously forgiving and compassionate)

is pure in heart (authentic/ sincere in single-minded devotion to God.)

is a peacemaker (one who is being made whole in Christ and demonstrates the same peace and reconciliation to others.)

perseveres (truly believes the gospel and lives in light of the Kingdom peace and power)

These are internal components describing what we hope to become and what we are hoping to develop in others as we make disciples of all nations.

As we close our time today, I urge you that we must be resolved to be healthy disciples of Jesus. Does your life reflect the beatitudes? Do you have all your internal components?

Here is what I want to ask of you: I want you to commit to growth as a disciple of Jesus. If you’ve never taken the step to trust Him for salvation, then start there. I’d love to tell you how.

If God has spoken to your heart today, don’t turn Him away.

[PRAY]

Discuss: What components do you believe are strongest in you? Weakest?

Discuss: Becoming like Jesus is a life-long endeavor. What goal do you have for growth this year?

Discuss: How does this diagram help you understand the Great Commission?

*Song Have thine own way